I'm against Ballon d'Or: Arsene Wenger

Despite the growing popularity and importance, Ballon d'Or has its share of opposition. According to the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, this yearly award for the world's best player undermines the spirit of a team sports like football.

New Delhi: Despite the growing popularity and importance, FIFA Ballon d'Or has its share of opposition. According to the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, this yearly award for the world's best player undermines the spirit of a team sports like football.

Portuguese super-star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Sunday adjudged the best footballer in world for the second successive year and third overall. The Real Madrid forward got the better of his great rival, Lionel Messi - who himself won it four times, to the award. As with their famed rivalry, the prestige of Ballon d'Or has also risen in the past years.

However, the long serving Gunners manager claimed that the premise of the award itself is flawed. Though, Wenger is not allowed to vote, he said he would not want to. Only only national team managers, national team captains and selected journalists are allowed to vote.

“I would not vote for any Ballon d'Or... I’m totally against it. I’m a team lover and a specialist of somebody who loves team work. I’m completely against it. I would not vote for anybody,” Wenger said during a press conference today.

Not a single Arsenal player was short-listed in the 23-man field before the list was further pruned down to three - the eventual winner Ronaldo, Messi and German goal-keeper Manuel Neuer.

With agency inputs